used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading About midnight Lucy was roused by a loud clap of thunder.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About midnight Lucy was roused by a loud clap of thunder.
Extreme physical or mental suffering; intense anguish.
From this reading She lay in an agony of terror, thinking that every moment might be her last.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The rain was dashing in through the open window, and the waning lamp seemed but a spark amid the almost incessant flashes of lightning.
amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading The rain was dashing in through the open window, and the waning lamp seemed but a spark amid the almost incessant flashes of lightning.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She lay in an agony of terror, thinking that every moment might be her last.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The rain was dashing in through the open window, and the waning lamp seemed but a spark amid the almost incessant flashes of lightning.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She lay in an agony of terror, thinking that every moment might be her last.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading The poor child trembled with fear, she dared not close the window, and yet the flying drops almost reached her little bed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The rain was dashing in through the open window, and the waning lamp seemed but a spark amid the almost incessant flashes of lightning.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading About midnight Lucy was roused by a loud clap of thunder.
a young person of either sex
From this reading The poor child trembled with fear, she dared not close the window, and yet the flying drops almost reached her little bed.
clapverbUS /klæp/
put quickly or forcibly
From this reading About midnight Lucy was roused by a loud clap of thunder.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The poor child trembled with fear, she dared not close the window, and yet the flying drops almost reached her little bed.
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading The poor child trembled with fear, she dared not close the window, and yet the flying drops almost reached her little bed.
dashingadjectiveUS /ˈdæʃɪŋ/
lively and spirited
From this reading The rain was dashing in through the open window, and the waning lamp seemed but a spark amid the almost incessant flashes of lightning.
dropsnounUS /drɑːps/
plural of “drop” — a shape that is spherical and small
From this reading The poor child trembled with fear, she dared not close the window, and yet the flying drops almost reached her little bed.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading She lay in an agony of terror, thinking that every moment might be her last.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading The poor child trembled with fear, she dared not close the window, and yet the flying drops almost reached her little bed.
flashesnounUS /ˈflæʃɪz/
plural of “flash” — a sudden intense burst of radiant energy
From this reading The rain was dashing in through the open window, and the waning lamp seemed but a spark amid the almost incessant flashes of lightning.
moving swiftly
From this reading The poor child trembled with fear, she dared not close the window, and yet the flying drops almost reached her little bed.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The poor child trembled with fear, she dared not close the window, and yet the flying drops almost reached her little bed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The rain was dashing in through the open window, and the waning lamp seemed but a spark amid the almost incessant flashes of lightning.
incessantadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsesənt/
uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
From this reading The rain was dashing in through the open window, and the waning lamp seemed but a spark amid the almost incessant flashes of lightning.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading The rain was dashing in through the open window, and the waning lamp seemed but a spark amid the almost incessant flashes of lightning.
immediately past
From this reading She lay in an agony of terror, thinking that every moment might be her last.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading She lay in an agony of terror, thinking that every moment might be her last.
abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
From this reading The rain was dashing in through the open window, and the waning lamp seemed but a spark amid the almost incessant flashes of lightning.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The poor child trembled with fear, she dared not close the window, and yet the flying drops almost reached her little bed.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading About midnight Lucy was roused by a loud clap of thunder.
incomplete skeleton of female found in eastern Ethiopia in 1974
From this reading About midnight Lucy was roused by a loud clap of thunder.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading About midnight Lucy was roused by a loud clap of thunder.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading She lay in an agony of terror, thinking that every moment might be her last.
a particular point in time
From this reading She lay in an agony of terror, thinking that every moment might be her last.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The poor child trembled with fear, she dared not close the window, and yet the flying drops almost reached her little bed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading About midnight Lucy was roused by a loud clap of thunder.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The rain was dashing in through the open window, and the waning lamp seemed but a spark amid the almost incessant flashes of lightning.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading The poor child trembled with fear, she dared not close the window, and yet the flying drops almost reached her little bed.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The rain was dashing in through the open window, and the waning lamp seemed but a spark amid the almost incessant flashes of lightning.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The poor child trembled with fear, she dared not close the window, and yet the flying drops almost reached her little bed.
past form of “rouse” — become active
From this reading About midnight Lucy was roused by a loud clap of thunder.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The rain was dashing in through the open window, and the waning lamp seemed but a spark amid the almost incessant flashes of lightning.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The poor child trembled with fear, she dared not close the window, and yet the flying drops almost reached her little bed.
sparknounUS /spɑːrk/
a momentary flash of light
From this reading The rain was dashing in through the open window, and the waning lamp seemed but a spark amid the almost incessant flashes of lightning.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading She lay in an agony of terror, thinking that every moment might be her last.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She lay in an agony of terror, thinking that every moment might be her last.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE THUNDER-SHOWER.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading She lay in an agony of terror, thinking that every moment might be her last.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The rain was dashing in through the open window, and the waning lamp seemed but a spark amid the almost incessant flashes of lightning.
move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading About midnight Lucy was roused by a loud clap of thunder.
THUNDER-SHOWER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE THUNDER-SHOWER.
past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading The poor child trembled with fear, she dared not close the window, and yet the flying drops almost reached her little bed.
waningnounUS /ˈweɪnɪŋ/
a gradual decrease in magnitude or extent
From this reading The rain was dashing in through the open window, and the waning lamp seemed but a spark amid the almost incessant flashes of lightning.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading About midnight Lucy was roused by a loud clap of thunder.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading The rain was dashing in through the open window, and the waning lamp seemed but a spark amid the almost incessant flashes of lightning.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The poor child trembled with fear, she dared not close the window, and yet the flying drops almost reached her little bed.
but in spite of that
From this reading The poor child trembled with fear, she dared not close the window, and yet the flying drops almost reached her little bed.
